Mintage:  11,676,500

Comments:  1873 cents are found with two different style dates, the close 3 and open 3.  Initially, close 3 digit punches were used to impress the individual dates into the working dies.  However, the 3 resembled an 8 and the mint changed the appearance of the 3 to be more open.  Close 3 examples are by far the scarcer  of the two types, with Rick Snow indicating an estimated mintage of  2.5 million.  Both types come well struck, but occasionally examples will be found with strike-throughs that negate detail.  Advanced collectors will acquire both close 3 and open3 examples, in order to complete a date set.

The best die variety for 1873 as a whole is 1873 Close 3 variety 1 and variety 2, both of which are ranked #1 in the top 100 die varieties for the series.  1873 Open 3 variety 1 and variety 6 are also included in the top 100 die varieties for the series.

Rarity Estimates for 1873 Varieties

CLOSE 3 OBVERSES
Top  100	Variety Number	Obv	Rev	Date Position	Obverse / Reverse Attributes	Cross Reference
	Proof 1	1	1872 Type II A	LE	Proof Die, Excessively Polished Base Of First Feather and Eye Socket / Proof Die, Bulged Right Pennant Of The T Of CENT	Snow PR1
*	4	3	C	LH	Doubled IBERTY / Die Crack from Shield to 12:45, 3:00 to Wreath and 8:00 to First Olive Leaf	Snow 2, DDO-002
*	5	3	O	LH	Doubled IBERTY / Crack From 6:00
	6	4	P
	7	5	R	LH	Reverse Retained Cud Between 6:00 and 7:45
	8	6	T	C	Reverse Die Cracks 7:00, 8:15 and 8:30
OPEN 3 OBVERSES
*	1	1	D	LH	Minor Date Repunching to the South on the 1 and Bold Repunching to the North on the 73	Snow 1, RPD-001
	2	2	E	C	Doubled Die Obverse:  Hub Doubling Of (L)IBERTY, Die Chip On Temple Between Eye and Hair / Lint Hub-Throughs In The Wreath Between 3:00 and 3:30, As Well As At 8:30	Snow 2, DDO-003
	9	9	L	LE	Possible Misplaced 1 Digit on Bust Truncation / Lint hub-throughs	ODD-003
	10	10	M	LH	Reverse Retained Cud between 3:00 and 5:00
	11	11	N	RE	Reverse Retained Cud between 8:00 and 8:30
	12	12	Q	B	Die File Marks Through Eye, To Right Of 1st Hair Curl and Below Ear / Die Cracks 12:45, 3:45 and 7:00	Snow 9, ODD-002
	13	13	S	LE	Reverse Retained Cud Between 8:30 and 10:30
	14	14	U	RE	Misplaced Digit:  Misplaced Digit Extending Above The Denticles Below The 7 Of The Date / Artifact Located At Shield Center	Snow 10
	15	15	V	B	Repunched Date:  Initial Date Impression To The East Of The 3; Die Rust Located In Front Of The Eye, In Front Of The First Hair Curl, To The Far Right Within The Headband and Within The Hair Above The Last Diamond Of The Ribbon / Lint Hub-Throughs Within Vertical Shield Bars and Upper Right Wreath; Die Cracks From 2:30, 3:00, 7:45 and 11:30	Snow 10